ACTFL

Practice Spontaneously: The tests are designed to assess spontaneous language ability. Avoid memorizing speeches or answers, as this can prevent a rating beyond the Novice level.

Immerse Yourself: In the days and weeks leading up to the test, immerse yourself in the target language through reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Understand the Guidelines: Familiarize yourself with the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines for speaking and writing to understand the criteria used for evaluation.

Review Familiarization Guides: ACTFL provides guides to familiarize you with the test format and procedures. You can access the OPI Familiarization Guide and the WPT Familiarization Guide.

Take Demo Tests: For the WPT and OPIc (computer version of the OPI), demo tests are available to help you understand the format and test environment.

Get Rest: Ensure you are well-rested before the test to perform your best. 

Tell Detailed Stories: Practice telling stories about your personal and professional experiences in detail, covering events that happened in the past, are happening now, and will happen in the future.

Seek Real-World Situations: Find opportunities to speak the language in real-world situations, such as talking with native speakers or finding a language exchange partner.

Talk as Much as Possible: During the interview, produce as much language as you can. The tester needs sufficient language evidence to assign a rating.

Don't Be Alarmed by Interruptions: Testers may interrupt or change topics once they have enough evidence for a specific proficiency level. This is standard procedure.

Discuss Current Events: Be prepared to discuss current events, societal topics, or political issues, as these topics may come up.

Focus on Communication: Don't focus on perfection; errors may occur even at high proficiency levels. The key is that errors do not form a pattern that obstructs communication. 

Write Essays: Practice writing detailed essays about personal and professional experiences, including background information and details.

Check Technical Requirements: Ensure your computer system and keyboard are configured correctly for the target language, especially if using a non-Roman alphabet.

Familiarize with the Background Survey: Before the test, you will complete a background survey, and your responses determine the pool of topics for your test questions. This ensures topics are relevant to you.

Avoid Prohibited Resources: The WPT is proctored. You cannot use notes, dictionaries, or electronic devices during the test.